Stanly County 4-H will partner with local middle schools to host an after-school event with a focus in STEM education.

Participating youth will join more than 150,000 children across the country in leading the 11th annual 4-H National Youth Science Day challenge.

This year’s challenge, Code Your World, teaches young people computer science skills through four engaging, hands-on activities.

Developed by Google and West Virginia University Extension Service, this hands-on experience includes a computer-based activity on Google’s CS

First platform, as well as three unplugged activities that bring coding to life through games and interaction. Code Your World is for first-time and beginner coders, ages 8 to 14.

Learning computer science is about much more than being able to write computer programs; it teaches kids a new way of thinking and solving problems.

In fact, recent research suggests that kids who learn computer science from resourceful teachers tend to score significantly higher than their peers on standardized exams in reading, math, science and language arts.

Event dates, from 3-5 p.m., are planned for:

Oct. 15: Albemarle Middle School;

Oct. 18th: South Stanly Middle School;

Oct. 22: West Stanly Middle School; and

Oct. 24: North Stanly Middle School.

Permission slips have been distributed and must be turned into your child’s school in order to attend.

Stanly County 4-H plans to host a countywide National Youth Science Day for all middle school aged youth at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. The date for this event will be announced soon.

Volunteers will be needed for each of these events. Contact the 4-H Office if you are willing to donate 2-4 hours of your time toward one or more of these events.

Don’t see your school listed here? Contact your local school administration and Stanly County 4-H agent to express interest.

Individuals may contact Kacie Hatley, Stanly County 4-H agent, at 704-983-3987 or kacie_hatley@ncsu.edu.